"What's that father?" a little boy once asked his father. "Can I play with them?"

The father replied, "No, son, it is not a toy! It is money, my boy!" The boy hurried off to play outside, though, wondering why his father considered those colorful chips as money.

Most children in America grew up with different kinds of colored chips. This colored chips represents money in the casinos. For example, a player who wants to play poker has to buy some chips to be used when betting. And because this is the kind of money that is being used during a game in the casino, particularly poker, others eventually call it poker money.

Poker money comes in various shades of blue, red, and other colors usually seen in the casinos.

In a particular poker game, a player's poker money account is comprised of real cash and real chips. Normally, players could convert their cash to chips and vice versa. This can be done any time the player wants to do transactions except during a game.

Poker money arrives after a player settles down on a table and is ready to play poker. This poker money, in terms of chips, is being laid out in front of the concerned player.

However, before proceeding into playing poker, every player must make a deposit for his poker money.

In a live poker game where players get to play facing each other, the poker money are converted easily from cash to chips and vice versa on counters provided in the casino.

On the other hand, online poker games have different ways of managing poker money. Most of the online poker websites require their players to have their poker money accounts through deposits. Generally, these can be done into two categories. One category of depositing poker money is through direct methods wherein players use a credit card or draft in order to deposit money. The other category of depositing poker money is through a 3rd party services like NETeller or prepaid ATM which acts like Internet banks. Here, players can do transactions such as depositing poker money and transferring funds to online poker Web sites.

There are six deposit methods usually used when dealing with poker money by means of a 3rd party.

First of its kind is the Neteller. This method of depositing poker money is usually available on many Internet sites. Neteller offers players the choice of cashing out directly poker money into their account. Opening a Neteller account is like having an online wallet.

The other method you could consider is the MyCitadel wherein online poker players need not check their mails for drafts. MyCitadel is a payment system that manages US and Canadian customers mostly catering to poker money related matters. Here, poker players can have their poker money by purchasing chips online.

Then there is the FirePay, a Web based cash account. FirePay is great site wherein players with fund accounts from a United States bank can directly open a poker money account with them. Funds can be transferred directly from a U.S. bank account.

You also have the option in using a prepaid ATM. The difference with prepaid ATM is that players get to deposit their poker money to an ATM card and not just a Web site. When doing cash outs, it goes directly to your card. And the good thing about it is that the prepaid ATM works with most local ATM machines.

If you are not so convenient in using ATM, you could opt for credit cards. Poker money deposits can be easily managed without having a 3rd party. Or better yet, you could use the bank draft or check wherein your poker money deposits are better secured. Plus most Web sites offer 10% bonus when you deposit poker money through this method.

Last option would be the UseMyBank method wherein it also guarantees secured, fast, and easy transactions. Though, only those who have Canadian online bank accounts can be eligible.

And after you are through making poker money deposit, and maybe playing some hands of poker, there are online poker Web site that will give you a choice if you want to cash out your poker money at once or remove your funds at the site if in case you still want to come back and play. With the six deposit mode mentioned, you can be assured of having your poker money, whether chips or cash, remain exactly like you left them.

So, when the time comes you have finally decided to play poker online or in a live poker room in the casino, try to think of ways how to manage your poker money. After all, those chips are not just plain plastics. Poker money is exactly the reason why you have played poker in the first place.